Double Stitch - Book Review

Guest Author - Kate Pullen

Double Stitch: Designs for the Crochet Fashionista by Erika and Monika Simmons is described as a book containing a collection of stylish, sexy and modern crochet patterns for the fashion diva  and it certainly lives up to expectations! The designs in this book are all innovative and unusual. Sentences starting 'not your ...' have become very cliched over recent years, however this really is not your standard crochet pattern book! The 22 patterns in the book are a diverse mix of designs including a feather chocker, a full length gown and a gothic shawl

This book will not be for everyone, although the patterns are stylish and fashionable they are certainly not classic designs  these are designs with a difference! Many of the projects are very unusual and the end result will be true head-turning one of a kind masterpieces. Plenty of attention has been given to detail and the projects have been designed to flatter using some clever techniques and really making crochet work as a garment fabric.

Double Stitch is suitable for crocheters of all levels and even the most complex of designs are manageable when broken down into sections. There is a small technique section at the back of the book, however complete beginners would find a dedicated 'how to' crochet book a sound investment to complement the instructions given. More advanced crocheters will be able to tackle the projects with ease, however there are plenty of interesting techniques and different ways of approaching things that will provide plenty of interest.

The yarns used in the project are given by weight and thickness as well as by brand making substitution straight forward. Many crocheters will find this extremely useful  particularly in a book like this where the emphasis is on innovative designs where crocheters may well want to stamp their individuality on a project by using different yarns.

Conclusion
Crocheters looking for something different will definitely find this book useful. It would also be an interesting book for people who are interested in making their own clothes and who are just learning to crochet. An interest in garment design and an enthusiasm for unusual clothes may well inspire someone to pick up a crochet hook for the first time.

If you are unsure whether this is the book for you, the publishers  Interweave Press  have a very helpful feature on their website. The Look Inside feature allows browsers to take a look at some pages of the book online and this is a really helpful way to get a better understanding of the book's content.